Saturday, September 23, people of faith gathered at 11:30am at John Calvin Presbyterian Church in Bridgeton, Missouri to learn about some of the most wounded parts of God's creation in the greater St. Louis area. We gathered with urgency to learn, pray, and call for action to protect our communities' health and safety.

While Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt has said that cleaning up toxic Superfund sites is one of his top priorities, the Trump Administration's proposed budget would cut the EPA's Superfund remediation budget by more than 30 percent. Failure to prioritize resources for cleaning up toxic messes has had devastating impacts on our drinking water, air, and communities' health. According to the landmark Toxic Waste and Race study by the United Church of Christ, communities of color bear an unjust burden of having toxic sites nearby, contributing to racial disparities in health problems such as asthma and cancer. If we don't invest in cleaning up now, matters will only get worse.

This event was one in a series. See information about Superfund Prayer Tours in Dayton, Ohio on September 24 and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on September 30. This blog post was last updated on September 25, 2017.

The tour began with a lunch briefing on Superfund sites in the St. Louis area. We heard remarks and were led in prayer by several local community leaders, and we visited the WestLake Superfund site for prayer and reflection. We especially held in prayer those who are suffering cancer related to their exposure to environmental toxins. Participants in the event included religious sisters, clergy, seminarians, students, local community members, and people who work at or near WestLake Landfill. This prayer event highlighted the need to protect communities from toxic pollution, and we urge Congress to fully fund the EPA and its Superfund Program.

SPEAKERS AND PRAYER LEADERS

The Rev. Dr. John Shear has been the pastor of JCPC for 14 years. Prior to that he served two other churches in the St. Louis Area. He has a BA in Political Science from the University of Missouri St. Louis and both an MDIV and DMIN from Eden Theological Seminary. Before his work in direct ministry, Pastor John served as an elected official in St. Louis County, representing one-seventh of the county. His district happened to include those sites effected by radioactive contamination in the North County Area and as a County Councilman he worked to get the Federal Government off the idea of building a storage bunker in North County and instead encapsulating this contamination for shipment to the rock burial in the western states. Rev. Shear is married to Rev. Jackie Havis-Shear, an ordained minister in the United Methodist Church. They have a blended family of six children, five grandchildren, one cat and two dogs.

Dawn Chapman (pictured left) is a mother of three special needs children and co-founder of Just Moms STL, to fight for environmental justice and downwinder status. Just Moms wants the complete removal of radiation from the West Lake landfill and for the EPA to take responsibility and buy out families that live one mile from the perimeter of the landfill. Dawn wants to see a safe and permanent clean up of radiation from the West Lake Landfill.

Karen Nickel (pictured right) is a wife, mother and grandmother doing everything she can to protect her children and community from radioactive waste. She is the founder of the the West Lake Landfill Facebook group, and Co-founder of Just Moms STL. Karen grew up exposed to the radioactive Coldwater Creek site, and for the past twenty years, she has lived 1.8 miles away from the West Lake – Bridgeton Landfill Superfund Site. For Karen, working with Just Moms is what “SHE HAS TO BE” doing to protect her family and future generations.

Sister Corlita Bonnarens, RSM is a native St. Louisan and a Sister of Mercy. She graduated with an MA degree from the Institute in Creation Centered Spirituality, and also has an MA degree in Art. She has ministered for over 30 years at Mercy Center in St. Louis, inviting people in retreats & workshops to integrate art, spirituality and justice with creation through praying and creating with clay & watercolor experiences. Sr. Corlita has created 25 watercolor images that depict sacred moments of the Universe that are in packets for use in the ritual of a Cosmic Walk. She is artist, teacher, spiritual director and ecologist. She has initiated the planting of over 100 trees on the grounds of Mercy Center, planting a pollinator garden of native wildflowers on 5 acres of ground, as well as inviting 2 beekeepers to install beehives at Mercy Center. Sr. Corlita is a founding member of the Intercommunity Ecological Council of Women Religious in St. Louis, MO.

Sister Jeanne Derer, FSM is a Franciscan Sister of Mary residing in St. Louis, MO. She is an artist and an advocate for our common home and our common good. She has been faithfully co-organizing prayer vigils near the WestLake Landfill Superfund site every second and fourth Wednesday of every month.

Jennifer Reyes-Lay is a board member for Creation Justice Ministries, representing the Ecumenical Catholic Communion. She serves as Assistant Director for the Congregational Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation Office of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word. She is also a student at Eden Theological Seminary.

Storm water runoff can cause huge problems for the environment. It often carries pollutants like pesticides, fertilizers, and animal waste into drinking sources and nearby ecosystems. However, through a process of green infrastructure, storm water can be returned to the ground to safely provide for plants and animals. This can be done through rain gardens that retain storm water runoff from roofs, parking lots and driveways. This water can then be treated and safely returned to the environment.​ The Anacostia Waterfront Trust, a non-profit organization that supports the creation of waterfront along the Anacostia River, was able to build one of these rain gardens through its RainPay program at the Progressive National Baptist Church in Washington D.C.. According to RainPay’s SRC-Generating Rain Garden Project case study in a 1.7-inch storm, the rain garden retained over 11,000 gallons of stormwater runoff from the church. If not retained, this water would flow directly into Watts Branch River untreated.If you would like to read the full case study on the rain garden at the Progressive National Church you can visit that here at DOEE SRC Case Study.If you wish to learn more about the work of The Anacostia Waterfront Trust visit their website at The Anacostia Waterfront Trust ​

Today, the U.S. Department of Interior released its new Stream Protection Rule. The final rule updates 33-year old regulations and establishes clear requirements for responsible surface coal mining that will protect 6,000 miles of streams and 52,000 acres of forests over the next two decades, preserving community health and economic opportunities while meeting the nation’s energy needs.

Throughout the stakeholder process, the Department of Interior’s Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement received more than 150,000 written comments and statements from 15 open houses and public meetings.

Creation Justice Ministries Executive Director Shantha Ready Alonso said of the Rule, “Since the Department of Interior announced its intention to review the Rule in 2009, religious communities have been monitoring it. We work closely with communities in Appalachian and Western states which have been directly harmed by previous disregard for water protection. This Rule is a step toward justice for communities which have not always been able to count on clean water to drink, fish, and grow crops.”

The Rule will offer protection for streams and watersheds against harmful mining practices long opposed by religious communities, such as mountaintop removal coal mining.

Rev. Jeff Allen, Executive Director of the West Virginia Council ofChurches said of the Rule, "Over the years, the West Virginia Council of Churches has supported the highest level of protection possible for our streams. We believe that the Stream Protection Rule announced today is a significant step forward in protecting not only our streams and wildlife, but also the people and communities who live near them."

Rev. Marc Stewart, Conference Minister for the Montana-Wyoming Conference of the United Church of Christ said of the new Rule, “As a Christian, I believe water is sacred for life, and that all of God’s creation depends on clean, safe water. No short-term economic gain is worth jeopardizing future generations’ access to water. I welcome the new Stream Protection Rule as an important tool to safeguard God’s gift of water. As Montanans, we are counting on Senator Tester, Senator Daines, Rep. Zinke, and President-elect Trump to stand up for safe water in the years to come.”

“I am grateful to the Obama Administration for protecting water safety through the new Stream Protection Rule. Protecting clean water is vital to our faith because water is the sign of our baptism, cleansing us, and bringing us new life. All life depends on water. Support for public policies which safeguard water is an expression of Christian faith. Coloradans are counting on Senator Bennet and Senator Gardner to protect water.”Adrian Miller, Executive Director, Colorado Council of Churches

“Following the example set forth by Pope Francis in his encyclical Laudato Si’, the Franciscan Action Network applauds the Obama's administration announcement of the Stream Protection Rule. Keeping our water clean is another positive step forward for ensuring that our planet is inhabitable for future generations. It is our hope that the President-elect continues this forward progress.”Patrick Carolan, Executive Director, Franciscan Action Network

Christian communities are supporting the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's actions to protect God's creation, as well as spiritually and culturally significant places, from the Dakota Access Pipeline. Here is a roundup of Christian community solidarity actions. This blog will be updated as more information comes in, and if you have tips for us, email us at info@creationjustice.org

Pray.

Take Action

Join in prayer with Standing Rock.This entire movement has been rooted in prayer.We have collected liturgical resources and prayers from the United Church of Christ, Presbyterian Church (USA) and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).Download prayer resources here.